Velocipede-bearing.



N0. 575,6l7. Patented June 4, I90l. G. E. BARTHOLOMEW.

VELOCIPEDE BEARING.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ms annals versus co. PHOTO-LIYNQ, WASHINGTON. n c.

UNTTFD STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. BARTHOLOMEl/V, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO ALBERT A. ENGLE, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOClPEDE -BEARING.

SiEGIIElWtTION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,617, dated June 4, 1901, Application filed October 4, 1900. Serial No. 81,984.. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BARTI-IOLO- MEW', a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Velociped e-Bearin gs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an aniifrictionbearing which is especially desirable for the to wheel-hubs of bicycles, but which is equally applicable to the wheel-hubs of automobiles and other vehicles.

The object of my invention is the production of a simple bearing in which the rollers i5 or balls bear against the annular races practically at two opposite points, so as to avoid grinding of the same, and which at the same time permits the bearings at opposite ends of the wheel-hub or other casing to be adjusted simultaneously for taking up wear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the rear wheel-hub of a bicycle provided with my improved bearing. Figs. and are transverse sections in lines 2 2 and 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the wheel-hub, show ing a slight modification of the bearing. Fig. '5 is a cross-section in line 5 5, Fig. 4:.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts .30 in the several figures.

A is the casing of the bearing, which in the construction shown in the drawings consists of the body or barrel of a-wheel-hub. A is the stationary axle, which is clamped in the 3 5 slotted fork ends A by screw-nuts a ct, ap-

plied tojhe axle on opposite sides of the fork ends.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, each of the bearings con- 0 sists of a ring or case 1), arranged in the end of the hub, twin cones c 0, arranged within said ring and surrounding the axle A, and rollers (Z, interposed between the ring I) and the opposing cones c c. The rollers are ta- 5 pered from their middle toward both ends, or, in other words, consist of two cones placed base to base. The twin cones c c of each pair are separated, and their opposing ends are beveled to fit the double-cone rollers.

The ring 7) is provided in its face with an annular groove 1), which is V-shaped in crosssection to fit the rollers, as shown in Fig. 1. The grooved ring 1) of each bearing forms the outer wall of the annular roller-race, and the opposing beveled ends of the corresponding twin cones c 0 form the inner wall of said race. The rollers of each bearing are held apart by vertical separating-rings c, seated in the ends of the ring I) and provided with openings which receive journals arranged at the ends of the rollers. The separating-rings of each bearing are secured in the ends of the bearing-ring by longitudinal screws f or other suitable means. These screws are ar ranged to alternate with the rollers, and in the construction shown in the drawings three rollers and three connecting-screws are employed; but a greater number may be used, if desired.

The inner cones c c of the two bearings at opposite ends of the wheel-hub are connected together by a sleeve G, which loosely surrounds the axles, so that the same is free to slide lengthwise of the axle in adjusting the bearings. The connected cones 0 may be formed integral with the sleeve G, as shown, or made separate from the sleeve and secured thereto,as desired. In the construction shown in the drawings the outer cones c are arranged loosely on the axle and held in position by the inner screw-nuts a. These cones may be engaged with the axle by a screwthread, if desired.

, 71. represents dust-excluding caps applied to the ends of the wheel-hub, and t' represents washers, of felt or other suitable material, which surround the contracted outer portions of the outer cones a between shoulders of said cones and the caps h.

As shown in Fig. 1, one of the bearingrings b-say the left-hand ring-is rigidly secured in the end of the wheel-hub by a screwthread, as shown, or other suitable means, while the other bearing ring is arranged loosely in the end of the hub, so as to be capable of sliding laterally or endwise therein.

In adjusting the bearings for taking up wear the right-hand outer cone c,which forms part of the laterally movable bearing, is screwed inwardly. This cone acting against the adjacent double-coned rollers shifts the same laterally toward the bearing at the op-- of the necessary lateral play of the cone-' sleeve. Endwise play ordisplacement of the hub on the axle is prevented by the rollers of the rigid' bearing. These rollers are held against lateral displacement by the groove formed' betwee n the opposing twin cones of said rigid bearing and in turn hold the hub against such displacement by their engageinent'with the groove of the rigid bearingring. By this construction a bearing is obtained in which the rollers bear practically at two opposite points, thus preventing grinding,-andprovision is made at the same time for adjusting the two bearings simultaneously;

J is a tubular lubricating-wick arranged in thewheel-hub between its bearings and abutting atitsends against the latter, so as to supply oilthereto. This wick is made of the proper diameter. to fit snugly against the innenwall of the hub and is held against-the same by rings k, which bear against the inner side of the wick. These rings are forced into the wick before the bearings are placed in theends of the hub.

In the modified construction of the bearing shown in Figs l and 5 balls cl are substituted for the double-c0ne rollers of' the first-described construction. In this case the annuspondingly formed. The balls are separated by a ring e, having openings in which the balls are seated, as shown.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a casing,of grooved bearin g-rings arranged at opposite ends of the casing and each forming the outer wall of an annular race, one of said bearing-rings being held against lateral displacement in the casing and the other being capable of moving toward and from said fixed ring, a pair of bearing-cones arranged within each of said bearing-rings and forming together the inner wall of said race, a sleeve which connects the inner cones of the two sets and which is capable of moving laterally in the casing, and rolling bearing members interposed between each of said grooved rings and the opposing cones, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination-with a casing, of bearings arranged at-opposite ends of the casing and each comprising a ring provided'in its inner face with a V-shaped annular groove, a pair of separated bearing-cones arranged within said ring and having their opposing ends beveled to correspond to said V-sha'ped groove, and double-cone rollers interposed between said grooved bearing-ring and the beveled faces of said opposing.cones,'-the grooved ring of one of said bearings-being held against lateral displacement in the casing and the corresponding ring of the other bearing being movable toward and from said fixed ring, and a sleeve which connects the inner cones of the two bearings and which is 

